My latest piece on #COVID19 is out @NatureHumBehav, part of @nature + OPEN ACCESS
When COVID-19 Meets Centralized, Personalized Power 
The debate over whether autocracies or democracies are better at fighting epidemics is misguided.
Why?
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0872-3


The debate over whether autocracies or democracies are better at fighting epidemics is misguided.
Why?

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-020-0872-3
Common logical fallacy is to insist that centralized power is either ALL-GOOD or ALL-BAD.
It is BOTH
For a balanced perspective, we must know when and how China's authoritarian regime failed & succeeded at responding to #COVIDー19
It is BOTH
For a balanced perspective, we must know when and how China's authoritarian regime failed & succeeded at responding to #COVIDー19
Deng Xiaoping knew well the dangers of autocracy
As I argued in @ForeignAffairs, he mitigated them by adding "democratic characteristics" to autocracy
But Xi came along & removed these checks, exposing the regime & ctry to the weaknesses of centralized power
Then came #COVID19
As I argued in @ForeignAffairs, he mitigated them by adding "democratic characteristics" to autocracy
But Xi came along & removed these checks, exposing the regime & ctry to the weaknesses of centralized power
Then came #COVID19
Not all dictatorships are alike, just as not all democracies are alike
Even within
PROC's 70 year history, it has experienced several different TYPES of dictatorships
Mao: Personalist dictatorship
Deng: Party-based leadership with checks
Xi: Swung back to Mao
Even within

Mao: Personalist dictatorship
Deng: Party-based leadership with checks
Xi: Swung back to Mao
Under Xi, the result is tightened control on civil society + a paralyzed bureaucracy afraid to take initiative or risks
Setting the stage for calamity to follow
Even though no one - especially Xi himself - wanted a disaster
Setting the stage for calamity to follow
Even though no one - especially Xi himself - wanted a disaster
Amid deep global anxiety, narratives about #COVID19
pandemic are becoming politicized and reduced to over-simplistic memes
Either
"China has scored a total victory!"
Or
"It's all China's fault!"
This is dangerous. We need a balanced perspective more than ever.
pandemic are becoming politicized and reduced to over-simplistic memes
Either
"China has scored a total victory!"

Or
"It's all China's fault!"

This is dangerous. We need a balanced perspective more than ever.
And most importantly, stop conflating Xi's administration with #China, or even with the CCP (there are dissenters within the party and government)
Just as Trump's administration ≠ USA
Only politicians are at war
Ordinary people do not want war
Just as Trump's administration ≠ USA
Only politicians are at war
Ordinary people do not want war
On a final nerdy note
Thank you to @NatureHumBehav editor Charlotte Payne for an shepherding an efficient peer review, fastest I've ever had, and with constructive comments
May every review process be like this
On top of world peace
Thank you to @NatureHumBehav editor Charlotte Payne for an shepherding an efficient peer review, fastest I've ever had, and with constructive comments
May every review process be like this
On top of world peace
